Ironing-board



v (No M'odel W. FEIGBL. f

IRONING BOARD. No. 345,676. 7 v Patented July 20, 1886.

4o braces of the support.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM 'FEIGEL, OF BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA.

lRONlNG-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 345,676, dated July 20, 1886. Application filed November 27, 1885. Serial No. 184,003. (No model.)

5 Improvement in Ironing-Boards; and I do here by declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to an iniprovementin ironing-boards for use in laundry work; and it consists in novel means for securing and adj usting such boards in position for use. I will describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a verticallongitudinal section of the board on the line y y of Fig. 4. 'Fig. 2 is a reduced plan view of the bottom of the board when its supporting mechanism is folded up and the board is not in use. Fig. 3 is a side View thereof when adjusted for use. Fig. 4is

a vertical cross-section on the line 90 w of Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each. 7

In the drawings, or represents the ironingboard, which is of ordinary configuration, as, shown in Fig. 2. Near the outer-end of the board and on its under sidealeg or support, I). is hinged by means of pintles c and hingesockets d. This support preferably consists of a horizontal cross brace or bar, b, at whose ends are the pintles a, while two crossed pieces are affixed at their upper ends to thebrace b, and constitute the supporting leg proper. Thus constructed, the leg can either be set so as to depend vertically from the board,as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or it may be folded up against the under side of the board, as in Fig. 2. In the latter case it may be conveniently held by a thumb button, e, which is pivoted to the board,and is adapted to engage one of the cross- When the leg is vertical, it is held rigidly in that position by means of a leaf-spring arm,f, which is fixed at its lower end to the face of the leg I) by means of screws f, or otherwise, and extends upward into a slot, h, in the under side of the board.

A base-plate, 73, covers a part of this slot, and when the end of the springfis within thelatter a projecting hook,h,at the end of the spring engages the plate and holds the leg in position.

When it is desired to fold up the leg, the spring f is passed back far enough to disengage the hook h from the plate 2'. The leg can then be folded up, and the act of turning it will draw the spring out of the slot. 0n again bringing the leg into a vertical position the spring will enter the slot,and will automatically secure the leg in place.

I will now describe the mechanism which I employ for fixing the inner end of the board to a table or other support. A strip or bar, m, is fastened transversely to the ironing-board at a short distance from the inner end, and a clamp-finger, n, is fastened to or made integral with a leaf-spring, a, one end of which is secured at a point, a, to the forward part of the strip m. The back and free end of the clampfinger projects back of the strip, so as to be opposite to the rear portion of the ironingboard. There are preferably two of these clamp-fingers, each attached by its own spring to the strip m, as shown in Fig. 2. The function, of the spring n is to serve as a flexible connecting device, on which the. clamp-finger may be moved to and from the ironing-board. Its spring action is preferably away from the latter. Bolts 8 traverse and are fixed to the ironing board and the strip m, and extend through holes or slots in the clamping-fingers a. The outer ends of the bolts are screwthreaded, and are fitted with thumb-nuts t, by turning which the clamp-fingers 12. may be moved up toward or suffered. to spring away from the ironing-board.

12 represents a washer interposed between the nuts t and the bottom of the finger n, to prevent wearing of the latter.

To secure the board to the ledge u of a wainscoating or table, the board (t is placed so that its rear end shall rest upon the ledge and the rear end of the clamp-fingersn shall be on the under side of the ledge. The thumb-nuts tare then screwed up, so as to clamp the fingers it against the ledge, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus arranged, if the leg I) be'dropped so as to rest upon the floor the board will be heldrigidly in place. To increase the efficiency of the clamp, the end of the finger may be provided with a projecting sharp spur or stud, of, which will enter the body of the ledge u and preventslipping of the board.

My improved ironing-board is of great utility. The catch f h confines the leg I) in an upright position, and prevents it from being kicked or otherwise accidentally knocked out of place, the resultof which might be toloosen the board and upset its supported irons.

The peculiar advantage of the form of clamp shown is its easy adjustability to fit ledges or projections of different thickness. It will also hold the board with great security, and is of such construction that it is not in the way of the person using theboard. Asshown in Fig. 2, the clamps are preferably set near the sides of the board. This gives a wide fasteningsurface and prevents slipping or turning of the board laterally.

The function of the strip m, besides acting as a base-plate for the attachment of the clamping-fingers, is also to serve as a batten to strengthen the board.

A useful addition to my improvement consists of a perforated metal plate or stand, w, 20 fixed to the surface of the board a. It forms a convenient support for hot irons and prevents them from scorching the board.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of an ironing board provided with a recess, It, and plate i, a leg or support pivoted to said board, and a springcatch, f, attached to the leg, and having a hooked end adapted to enter the recess and 30 engage the plate, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM FEIGEL.

VVitnesSes:

THOMAS W. BAKEWELL, R. H. VVHITTLESEY. 

